Railroad signal and alarm.



' No. 743,245. I PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903. A. E. GAUGHEY.

RAILROAD SIGNAL AND ALARM. APPLICATION FILED my 2, 1901 10 MODEL.

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NITED STATES i atented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. OAUGHEY, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. E. HOLLENBEOK, OF POTTAVVATTAMIE COUNTY, IOWA.

RAILROAD SIGNAL AND ALARM.

D'PEC'IFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 743,245, dated November 1 0 Application filed May 2, 1901. Serial No. 53,557. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. CAUGHEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas, State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Railroad Signal and Alarm, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and novel improvement in railway-signals.

The object of my invention is to provide a railway-signal operated in conjunction with a suitable track device, so that a gong may be rung at the approach of a train.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown in Figure 1 a front view,of a signal embodying my invention. Fig. 2 discloses a detail of the gripper mechanism used in my invention, while Fig. 3 discloses an end view of said gripper mechanism.

My invention embodies a railway-signal comprising a suitable starting mechanism in circuit with suitable'track-wires, a vibrating armature to strike a gong, and a device for operating the starting mechanism to reset the same after the signal has been actuated for a suitable length of time.

In carrying out the aim of my invention I provide a suitable supporting-panel E, to

which is secured a stub-shaft 12, as is shown in Fig. 1. This stub-shaft 12 revolubly supports a suitable disk A, which disk is provided with the lateral projecting pin 22. P0- sitioned adjacent this disk A and held by means of the bracket 57, secured by means of the screws 0, are a set of ordinary electromagnets 59. Secured to the bracket 57, adjacent the magnets 59, is a rectangular arm 64, secured by suitable means and separated by means of a block of insulating material 58, as shown. This arm 64 is provided with an insulated bearing 61, supporting the bearing of the vibrating armature h, which armature is prolongedand provided with the hammer 9, as shown. This armature h is positioned in front of the electromagnets 59 and is balanced by means of the spring 60, as shown. Secured to this armature h is the spring 62, working against an adj usting-screw 63, forming part of the arm 64, as'is usual in con- 5o structing this class of vibrating armature. Pivotally secured to the vibrating armature h is the gripper-arm 10, which gripper-arm at its forward end is provided with the slot 52, through which extends a suitable gripperhead 51, held by means of the supporting-pin 50, secured to the gripper-arm 10, as is shown in Fig. 2. Also secured to this gripper-arm is a coil-spring 53, which normally draws the gripper-head in one direction, as is disclosed in Fig. 2. This gripper-arm 10 is provided with the supporting-crook 54, adapted to lie upon the edge of the disk A, so that the gripper-head 51 normally comes in engagement with the disk A, this gripper thus acting in the form of a pawl in engagement with said disk A, as shown. Positioned adjacent the hammer 9 is a suitable gong M.

At a suitable point adjacent the disk A, I provide the bracket 30, secured by means of the screws y, and this bracket supports two ordinary electromagnets 1. Hung adjacent the magnets 1 by means of the pin U is the armature 2, provided below with the terminal hook 2, as is shown in Fig. 1. This hook 2 is adapted to pass through the slot 2 within the pivoted arm 3, which arm by means of the pind is pivotally supported, as shown.

Secured to a projecting bracket 4 is a setscrew 4, forming a contact-point adapted to be engaged by the arm 3. This arm 3, it will be noticed, has its end prolonged, so that the same extends in front of the disk A, so that said arm will be engaged by the pin 22. Further positioned within the path of this pin 22 is a contact-arm 14, secured to a suitable insulating-block w, to which is also secured the contact-arm 15, the end of which terminates adjacent the arm 14, as shown in Fig. 1. The arm 3 and its contact 4 and the pair of arms 14 and 15 constitute switches whereby the circuit is opened and closed.

At a suitable point and secured to a support 11 is a gripper-arm 10, provided with the counterpart crook 54, spring 53, and a counterpart gripper 51. This second gripper-head is intended to prevent the disk A revolving backward, so that this disk is nor- .mally held by the gripper-head 51 within the second arm 10.

Extending from one pole of the battery X arm 64 is an electric conductor 13, which continues in the conductor fto the arm 3, as shown in Fig. 1, While extending from the contact-screw 4 is the conductor 5, which continues in the conductor 7 to the remainmagnet 1 is a second track-wire 18, which is also led to the track instrument, so that whenever the track instrument is operated to bring together the two terminals V and W of the track-wires 19 and 18 a momentary circuit is formed to set into operation my electric signal. I

The operation'of my device would be as follows: As a train approaches the track mechanism to cause a momentary union of the terminals V and W a circuit is formed and the starting-magnets l are momentarily magnetized to attract the armature 2. As soon as this armature is drawn toward the starting-magnets 1 the hook 2 releases the arm 3, dropping said arm upon the screw 4: to bring into play the local circuit to magnetize the local magnets 59 to vibrate the armature h in striking the gong M. Each downward move of the vibrating armature It causes a movement of the gripper-arm 10, so that the gripper-head 51, secured to this arm 10, engages the disk A to intermittently rotate the same, so that this gripper-head acts as a pawl in engaging the disk A. The gripper-head 51 within the arm 10' will operate to prevent this disk A from rotating backward. From this it will be seen that the vibrating arm h operates the gong M, as well as rotates the disk A. The disk A is revolved until the pin 22 comes in contact with the projecting end of the arm 3, which arm is carried up and again locked to the armature 2. The magnets 59 remain in circuit until the circuit is finally broken by meansofthecircuit-breakerMand15. From this it will be noticed that the mechanism is started by means of the magnets 1, that the disk A is rotated so that the pin 22 escapes from below the arm 14 by means of the local magnet 59, that the instant the arms 14 and 15 are unitedacircuit parallel to them is formed through the contacts 4 and 4, and that after the starting-magnets are reset the separating of the arms 14 and 15 stops the signal. In Fig. 1 the instrumentalities are shown in a condition at rest.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

1. A railway-signal, comprising starting-l magnets in circuit with track-wires, an armature moved thereby, automatic timing mechanism constituting a part of the signal mechanism, means controlled by said armature for completing a local circuit through said signal mechanism, and a second means connected in parallel with said latter means for completing the circuit after the mechanism has been started. and for maintaining said local circuit after the first means is thrown out of operation so as to cause the actuation of the signal device for the proper length of time, and the resetting of the starting-magnets, and mechanical means for breaking the local circuit first at one place and then at the other, substantially as described.

2. A railway-signal, comprising a startingmagnet in circuit with track instruments, an arm controlled by the said magnet and adapted to complete a local circuit, a second arm connected in parallel with the said local circuit for maintaining the same after the first arm is raised for starting the mechanism again, and automatic timing mechanism cooperating with said'arms, substantially as described 3. In a railway'signal, the combination of wires for introducinga track-circuit, magnets connected therewith, an arm controlled by the said magnets, a contact-point adapted to be engaged by said. arm for completing a local circuit through the signal mechanism, a second arm and contact connected in parallel with the first arm and contact for maintaining the said local circuit after the first arm has been raised, and an electromagnet vibrator mechanism having a predetermined period of operation in the said local circuit for operating the said signal and raising the said arm, substantially as described.

l. In a railway-signal, the combination of a starting-magnet, a circuit including said starting-magnet and controlled by the passage of a car, a local circuit, a switch controlled by the starting-magnet adapted to close said local circuit, a second switch adapted to close said local circuit, and automatic timing mechanism operating to open or restore said switches successively at predetermined intervals, whereby the local circuit is maintained during the restoration of said first-mentioned switch.

'5. In a railway-signal, the combination of a starting-magnet, a circuit including said starting-magnet and controlled by the passage of a car, a local circuit, automatic timing mechanism operating to open said-local circuit at the end of a predetermined movement, means controlled by the starting-magnet adapted to complete said local circuit, and other means connected in parallel with said first means for maintaining the local circuit during restoration of the means controlled by the starting-magnet.

6. A railway-signal, comprisingastartingmagnet, a pivoted armature hanging in front of the same, a latch carried thereby and a pivoted arm adapted to be held in a raised position by the latch, a contact-point for completing a local circuit with the said arm when released from the said latch, a second arm and contact connected in parallel with the first arm and contact and with the local circuit, a disk mounted within the said alarm mechanism and adapted to operate the said arms, and a magnetin the local circuit adapted to actuate the said disk and operate the signal.

7. A railway-signal comprising a starting mechanism arms connected in parallel with the local circuit, one of said arms being controlled by the starting-magnet, a magnet in the local circuit having a suitable vibrating armature, a hammer carried by the said armature, a gong adapted to be sounded by the said hammer and a rotating disk mounted within the housing of the signal mechanism and operated by the vibrating armature for regulating the time during which the gong will besounded and for resetting the starting-magnets, substantially as described.

8. A railway-signal, comprising a suitable housing, starting-magnets mounted therein, and connected with the track-wires, means controlled by said magnets for closing a local circuit in the housing, a second means connected in parallel with said last-mentioned means for maintaining said local circuit, a magnet included in said local circuit, a rotating disk mounted in said housing, a grip per operated by the armature of said local magnet for engaging said disk and rotating the same, a gripper for preventing the disk from rotating backwardly, and a pin carried by the said disk adapted to engage the means for closing the local circuit whereby, after the signal has been actuated for a suitable length of time, the mechanism will be reset and the local circuit broken, substantially as described.

9. A railway-signal, comprising a startingmagnet, an arm controlled thereby for closing the local circuit, a second armfor maintaining the local circuit after it has been broken through the first arm, a disk rotated in suitable proximity to the path of said arms, and having a pin adapted to engage the ends thereof, a magnet inthe local circuit for ro tating said disk and apin carried by said disk adapted to successively engage said arms, all arranged substantially as and for the pur pose set forth.

ALBERT E. CAUGHEY.

Witnesses:

E. C. HODDER, BURTON A. KARR. 

